Note: This article may contain spoilers for a future Disney+ series.
A recent rumor claims that Mephisto is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was heavily speculated that the character would appear in WandaVision as the mastermind behind Wanda's Westview predicament. That, however, turned out not to be the case. Over time, the speculation surrounding WandaVision even led Mephisto to become somewhat of a joke among the Marvel fandom.
The villainous being has yet to make his debut in the MCU, but according to a rumor, he may be slated to appear in a future project with an actor reportedly attached to play him.
According to leaker MyTimeToShineHello, Borat and The Dictator star Sacha Baron Cohen is slated to play Mephisto in Ironheart, the Disney+ series expected to come out in the fall of 2023. The show stars Dominique Thorne (Judas and the Black Messiah) as Riri Williams, a young engineer who, as Marvel describes, "creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man."
The leaker further claimed that Mephisto will be responsible for giving The Hood his powers. The Hood, a.k.a. Parker Robbins, is a villain with mystical abilities that stemmed from magic-imbued boots and a cloak. He is slated to appear in Ironheart, where he will be played by Anthony Ramos (In the Heights).
MyTimeToShineHello also stated that Mephisto is expected to be a prominent presence in the MCU moving forward: "Long-term for sure. Just a taste [in 'Ironheart']."
The Cosmic Circus' Lizzie Hill also touched on the rumor, stating on Twitter: "[Yes], I hear, and have some confidence, that Sacha Baron Cohen is involved with 'Ironheart.' I believe he's not Dormammu and that the Mephisto rumors may be true. Time will tell."
Funnily enough, the rumor caused Mephisto to trend on Twitter.
On paper, it may seem strange for a grand, mystical character like Mephisto to reportedly be introduced in a seemingly technology-focused series like Ironheart. However, it was revealed by Marvel Studios during D23 (via Collider) that the series would pit technology against magic.
Taking that into consideration, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Williams' solo series to feature Mephisto, even if only in a small capacity. Still, as with any rumor, it's important to take this information with a grain of salt. Ultimately, it's best to wait for a potential update from Marvel Studios, or until Ironheart is released.
Ironheart is scheduled to arrive on Disney+ in the fall of 2023. Before that, Riri Williams will make her live-action debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, coming to theaters on November 11, 2022.